Automatic doffing apparatus for textile machine having one or more winding units

ABSTRACT

A textile machine having a plurality of winding units arranged in a row is serviced by automatic doffing apparatus travelling on a track along the row of winding units. Each winding unit has means for sensing when a bobbin being wound in it is full. When the doffing apparatus comes to a winding unit with a full bobbin, it stops, the yarn is severed upstream of the bobbin and is sucked into a storage box and the full bobbin is released from the bobbin chuck and discharged. A new bare bobbin is thereupon delivered by the doffing apparatus to the chuck, the yarn is transferred to the new bobbin which thereupon starts to rotate and is severed by the severing means downstream of the bobbin. The doffing apparatus then proceeds to the next winding unit with a full bobbin. When stopping at a winding unit, the doffing apparatus first slows down so that shock is avoided and accurate positioning is achieved. The sequential steps of operation of the doffing apparatus are controlled by a group of coaxial programming cams actuating corresponding microswitches.

' United States Patent 1191 Endo et al. 1 June 28, 1974 AUTOMATIC DOFFING APPARATUS FOR 3,370,798 2/1968 Hagihara et 31. 242/18 A TEXTILE MACHINE HAVING ONE OR 3,403,866 10/1968 Bell et a1 57/53 X 3,429,514 2/1969 Pospisil et a1... 242/18 A MORE WINDING UNITS 3,476,328 11/1969 Shimai Cl al. 242/335 R [76] Inventors: Tetsuhiko Endo, 52 Yonchono-cho 3,507,453 4/1970 Scragg et a1. 242/18 A Misagagi Yamashina, 3,572,597 3/1971 Parker et al. 242/18 A Migashiyama-ken Kyoto-shi; T0shi0 Aoba, 121 Sengendai r v Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Y0k0h8maShl; $11010 Morlshlta, Attorney, Agent, or Firm Robert E. Burns; Emmany Sonayama, uel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams Otsu-shi; Katsusuke Egami, 6-28 Kojyogaoka, Otsu-shi Shiya; Shingo Hagihara, 2-28 Bunkyo-cho, ABSTRACT an of Japan A textile machine having a plurality of winding units [22] F iled: June 12, 1972 arranged in allr ow is servicelii ltiy autcfimatic do ffingdapparatus trave mg on a trac a ong t e row 0 wm mg [2]] Appl? 261,638 units. Each winding unit has means for sensing when a R l t d [)3 A li ti D t bobbin being wound in it is full When the doffing ap- [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 885,174, Dec. 15, paratus comes a wmdmg umt with a full bobbin It I969 aband0ne stops, the yarn 1s severed upstream of the bobbin and is sucked into a storage box and the full bobbin is re- [30] Foreign Application p i i Data leased from the bobbin chuck and discharged. A new D 74 1968 J3 an 43412903 bare bobbin is thereupon delivered by the doffing ap- 5 I968 A3860 paratus to the chuck, the yarn is transferred to the I968 n 4367] new bobbin which thereupon starts to rotate and is severed by the severing means downstream of the bobbin. The doffing apparatus then proceeds to the next g f j winding unit with a full bobbin. When stopping at a 58] Fieid 42/35, 5 R 5 A 18 A winding unit, the doffing apparatus first slows down so 242/18 R l8 57252 that shock is avoided and accurate positioning is i achieved. The sequential steps of operation of the [56] References Cited doffing apparatus are controlled by a group of coaxial programming cams actuating corresponding micro- UNITED STATES PATENTS switches l.7()() 425 1/1929 Abbott et a] 242/356 R 3092.340 6/1963 Furst 242/355 R 13 29 Drawmg Flgul'es PATENTEDJUH28 m4 SHEET 01 I 17 AF L PATENTEDJUNZBIHH 332M730 sum 02 or 11 PATENTEDJUN28 1914 (1820.730

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INDICATION OF FULL PACKAGE MOVEMENT OF CARR I AGE PNEUMATIC SUCTION MIDDLE FRAMEWORK MOVEMENT FORWARD BACK WARD YARN SEVERING RETURNING OF SEVERING DEVICE MOVEMENT OF THE DOFFING ARM MOVEMENT OF THE DOFFING HEAD DOWNWARD UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE DOFFING FEEDER FORWARD BACK SWITCHING OF THE EJECTION VALVE ROTATION OF THE PROGRAMMING CAMS PMENTEDmza m4 sum. 16 or 11 wmmmumwm 1820;730 SHEEI 17M 17 my. HA

AUTOMATIC DOFFING APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE MACHINE HAVING ONE OR MORE WINDING UNITS This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 885,174 filed Dec. 15, 1969, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to an improved automatic doffing method and apparatus for a texile machine having one or more winding units, and more particularly relates to an improved automatic method and apparatus for selectively carrying out doffing operations without interrupting the yarn supply on textile machines provided with a plurality of aligned winding units.

The method of the present invention is advantageously applicable to such textile machines as a take-up machine for extruded filaments, a take-up machine for drawn filaments, a false-twisting machine, a stuffingbox type crimping machine, an edge-method type crimping machine, an air-jet type bulking machine, a heat setting machine for crimped fibers or an open-end type spinning machine. The method of the present invention is also applicable to a textile machine having only one winding unit without any serious mechanical modification. Especially, the method of the present invention is most advantageously adapted for such cases wherein an operational complexity exists in the yarn retrieving operation at the moment of stopping or restarting the machine or it is particularly undesirable to interrupt the yarn supply even during the doffing operation, that is, to stop the advancement of the yarn from the supply source.

In the conventionally known type of doffing system, advancement of the yarn has to be stopped for carrying out the doffing operation and for a certain length of time after the restarting of the yarn advancement, it is necessary to eliminate the supplied yarn using such a device as a waste spool. In case the yarn supply does not stop, it is necessary to preliminarily cause the yarn to wind around the waste spool or to cause the yarn to be sucked into a specially disposed suction nozzle so as to perform the doffing and bobbin exchanging operations together. All of this work must be performed manually. Furthermore, a highly trained technique is generally required to carry out the operations with fewer malfunctions. In addition to this, an increase in the yarn speed or yarn strength often tends to cause an operational hazard.

Recently, another type of doffing and bobbin exchanging system has been proposed. In this system, a single yarn stream unit is provided with a pair of suitably arranged winding units. When one of the winding units become fully packaged, the yarn is automatically transferred from that fully packaged winding unit to the other winding unit previously and manually provided with a bare bobbin. However, this arrangement requires relatively wide floor space and the manufacturing cost of the equipment inevitably increases considerably. Therefore, actual utilization of the equipment of this type is limited to a particular use.

With the above-described disadvantages of conventionaldoffing equipment, there has long been a need of improved doffmg apparatus on which, without interrupting the advancement of the yarn, the fully packaged bobbin is automatically doffed, a new bare bobbin is automatically supplied replacing the fully packaged bobbin, and the yarn is automatically wound onto the 2 thus supplied new bar bobbin, being transferred from the fully packaged bobbin.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for carrying out automatic dofiing of a wound bobbin, substitution of a newly supplied bare bobbin for the wound bobbin and transfer of the yarn from the wound bobbin to the bare bobbin without any interruption in the yarn supply.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for automatically and selectively carrying out doffing operations on textile machines having a plurality of aligned winding units.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for automatically carrying out doffing operation without requiring any skilled manual operations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic dofiing apparatus not requiring large floor space and being manufactured at a relatively low manufacturing cost.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic method and apparatus capable of carrying out a doffing operation with fewer malfunctions while effecting a considerable increase in the operational efficiency. r

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic doffing method and apparatus advantageously adaptable for a high speed processing of the yarn and for yarns of high strength without any possibility of operational hazards.

In order to achieve the above-described objects of the invention, the method of the present invention includes positively severing the processing yarn at a suitable position upstream of a package-carrying bobbin and a leading end of the severed yarn is sucked into a suction nozzle so as to be received successively within a suitably disposed waste yarn box. Concurrently with the doffing of a wound bobbin out from the winding unit, a new bare bobbin is supplied thereto and, upon starting of the rotation of the new bare bobbin, the yarn previously sucked into the yarn box now starts to be pneumatically transferred to the bare bobbin. Almost simultaneously with this, the yarn is again positively severed at a point slightly upstream of the suction nozzle. Throughout the whole process, the supply of the yarn from the supply source is not interrupted.

The apparatus of the present invention for carrying out the above-explained method is movable along a plurality of aligned winding units. When the apparatus arrives at a winding unit of fully packaged bobbin, it automatically detects the fully packaged condition of the unit and starts to perform the above-described method. The time-functional sequence of the operations is controlled by a suitably profiled programming cam disposed in the apparatus. In the case of malfunction in the yarn transfer to the new bobbin, the abovedescribed operational steps may be automatically repeated only once more.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be made more explicit from the ensuing description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention in combination with a winding unit,

FIG. 1A is an enlarged front view of the full package indicator assembly shown in FlG. I and the cooperating limit switches provided for the doffing apparatus;

FIG. 1B is a side view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a detailed side view of the limit switch actuating means shown in FIGS. IA and 18,

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus shown in FIG. I seen in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the apparatus,

FIG. 3A is an enlarged side view of the doffing head used in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIGS. 38 and 3C are side and top views of another embodiment of the doffing head.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the electric circuit of the doffing apparatus of the invention.

FIGS. 4A to 4D are perspective views showing the mechanism and the operation of the bare bobbin feeder arm arrangement used in the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a yarn severing device used in the apparatus shown in FIG. I, seen in the ad vancing direction of the processing yarn,

F IGS. 6A to 6F are explanatory side views for showing time sequential operations of the doffing apparatus of the present invention in combination with those of the corresponding winding unit,

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are perspective views of several modified embodiments of the package carrying bobbin advantageously usable for the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a graphical representation of a time sequential relationship between the several operations carried out by the apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 9A is a schematic plan view, of the apparatus of the present invention used in combination with a textile machine having a plurality of aligned winding units,

FIG. 9B is a similar view showing a textile machine with two lines of winding units.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic block diagram of apparatus of the present invention.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are respectively schematic side and plan views of the programming cam assembly of the apparatus.

As mentioned above, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatic doffing and is further characterized as follows.

I. The apparatus travels along a plurality of winding units disposed in an aligned arrangement.

2. Upon detection of a fully packaged winding unit during the travel, the apparatus stops at that location so as to perform a doffing operation.

3. The apparatus is provided with a yarn severing mechanism and a yarn sucking mechanism located upstream of the yarn severing position. After the mechanism is put in a pre-designed operational disposition, the yarn is severed and the yarn continuously supplied from the given supply source and received by the yarn sucking mechanism to be stored within a suitably disposed waste yarn box.

4. A fully packaged bobbin is automatically released from a bobbin chuck and suitably removed off from the winding unit.

5. A bare bobbin is supplied to the winding unit so as to be clamped by the bobbin chuck while preserving the suction of the supplied yarn in such a manner that the path of the sucked yarn is located in between the bare bobbin and the winding unit.

6. The chucked bare bobbin starts to rotate and, when the rotation reaches to a normal rotational speed, the yarn being sucked is transferred onto the bare bobbin and the yarn is again severed ata point just upstream of the suction inlet of the yarn sucking mechanism.

7. The bobbin surface is partially provided with means for easily catching the yarn at the moment of yarn transfer. The catching means may be in the form of hook fabric tape of the kind used in Velcro" fastners. Such fabric comprises a multiplicity of hooks formed, of monofilaments of thermoplastic material projecting from a fabric or sheet base as disclosed, for example, in US. Pat. No. 2,717,437.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the entire structure of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is shown in combination with a winding unit. In the arrangement shown, a roller bail ll having a yarn traversing groove or grooves is rotationally mounted on a framework of the winding unit. Also on the framework, a swingable cradle arm 2 is mounted at a pivotal support 3. A weight 4 is disposed to one end of the cradle arm 2 so as to effect a clockwise moment upon the cradle arm 2 in the arrangement shown in the drawing. Near the other end of the cradle arm 2, two pairs of bobbin supporting rollers 5 are rotationally disposed to the cradle arm 2 so as to rotationally carry the bobbin thereof. The cradle arm 2 is further provided with an arm plate 6, a full package indicator and actuator 7 and a bobbin rail 8, all the members being secured thereto. In the vicinity of the bobbin supporting rollers 5 assembly, a full package detector micro-switch 9 and a side plate III) is disposed to the framework of the winding unit. Apart from the aforementioned members, a package holder 11 is mounted on the framework. Below the above-described members, a full package indicator assembly 12 having a solenoid therein is mounted on the framework. The winding unit is further provided with a motor 13 for effecting yarn winding and a yarn guide 14 mounted on its framework, respectively. The operational features of the above-mentioned members will be explained later in detail. Further, the winding unit such as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,370,798 can advantageously be used in combination with the apparatus of the present invention.

In combination with the above-described arrangement on the side of the winding unit, the apparatus of the present invention is provided with a doffing head 16 having a suction inlet for receiving yarn 15 being processed. Detailed structure of the doffing head 16 will be clarified later on. A flexible tube 17 extends from a vacuum generator 18 towards the main operational portion of the apparatus. At a location downward of the doffing head I6, a doffing arm 19 is pivotally mounted on a pivotal support 22 and connected to a servo-motor 20 by way of a connecting link 21. Both the pivotal support 22 and the servo-motor 20 are secured to a bracket 23 which is stationary on a middle framework 24 of the winding unit.

Apart from the above-described arrangement, a bobbin box 25, containing bare bobbins 26 therein, is disposed above the framework 24 and is provided with a bobbin feeder 27 disposed relative to a bottom opening of the bobbin box 25 in a horizontally slidable arrangement. Sliding movement of the bobbin feeder 27 is actuated by a servo-motor 1108 by means of a pinion 107 and a rack I06. A bare bobbin 26 on the bobbin feeder 27 is transferred therefrom to the predesigned position 

1. In combination with a textile machine having at least one winding unit comprising chuck means for successively holding bobbins on which yarn is to be wound, means including a roller bail for supplying yarn to a bobbin held by said chuck means to be wound on said bobbin and means for sensing a fully packaged bobbin; automatic doffing apparatus comprising: a. means for severing said supplied yarn, b. means for releasing and discharging a fully packaged bobbin from said chuck means, c. means for pneumatically sucking a leading end of said severed yarn and storing said yarn, d. means for supplying bare bobbins, e. means for delivering a bare bobbin from said supply means to said chuck means of said winding unit, f. means for starting rOtation of said newly fed bare bobbin, g. means for transferring said yarn to the peripheral surface of said newly fed bare bobbin to be wound thereon and, h. programming means controlled by said sensing means for operating said severing means, releasing and discharging means, sucking and storing means, bobbin supply and delivery means, rotation starting means and transferring means in predetermined sequence including means for operating said severing means to sever said yarn at the start of the doffing operation and again prior to or concurrently with the winding of said yarn on said newly fed bare bobbin.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said textile machine comprises a plurality of said winding units arranged in a row and said doffing apparatus comprises a carriage running on a track along said row and means for propelling said carriage along said track and means controlled by said sensing means for stopping said carriage at a winding unit having a fully packaged bobbin.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said propelling means comprises means for propelling said carriage normally at a first selected rate and for propelling said carriage at a lower second selected rate prior to stopping said carriage at a winding station.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said carriage comprises a horizontally movable framework on which said severing means, sucking means, bobbin supply means and bobbin delivery means are mounted, and means for moving said framework toward and away from said winding unit.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for moving said sucking means vertically.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said yarn severing means comprises two scissor-like blades of which one is fixed and the other is movable, means for biasing said movable blade to open position and means controlled by said programming means to move said movable blade toward said stationary blade to sever a yarn disposed between said blades.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said bobbin supply means comprises a bobbin box for holding a plurality of empty bobbins, and said bobbin delivery means comprises slide means horizontally movable under said bobbin box to move one bobbin at a time from said bobbin box toward said winding unit.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which said bobbin delivery means further comprises a swingable arm carrying bobbin holding means and means for operating said arm to take a bobbin from said slide means and deliver it to said winding unit.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said yarn transferring means comprises a nozzle and means for supplying air under pressure to said nozzle at a selected time, said nozzle being positioned to direct a stream of air to deflect said yarn to the surface of a bobbin in said winding unit.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said yarn transferring means comprises a movable arm carrying a yarn-engaging finger, and means for moving said arm to transfer a yarn engaged by said finger to the surface of a bobbin in said winding unit.
 11. In apparatus according to claim 1, a bobbin having a portion of its peripheral surface covered with hook fabric for holding a yarn brought into engagement with the periphery of said bobbin by said transferring means.
 12. In apparatus according to claim 1, a bobbin having a notch at one end to catch and hold a yarn brought into engagement with said bobbin by said transferring means.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said programming means comprises a plurality of coaxial programming cams, means for rotating said cams together at a selected speed and switch means actuable respectively by said cams and controlling the sequential operation of said severing means, sucking and storing means, bobbin delivery means and transferring means. 